Turkana County Malnutrition Tied to Economic Shocks, Study Finds

TURKANA — A recent study conducted by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) has linked persistent acute malnutrition in Turkana County primarily to economic shocks, diverging from previous assumptions that attributed the condition mainly to climate-induced food insecurity.

According to Kenya News Agency, the two-year study, funded by USAID Nawiri, surveyed households from diverse economic backgrounds including fisher-folk, agro-pastoralists, and urban and peri-urban dwellers, identifying factors like loss of livestock, inflation, and unemployment as key contributors to malnutrition. Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, Chief Officer for Medical Services in Turkana, emphasized the significance of these findings in reshaping local nutrition programming efforts.

Dr. Lokoel pointed out that the study has refuted the common belief that climate change and resultant food scarcity were the primary causes of malnutrition in the region. Instead, economic hardships leading to an inability to purchase food were identified as the more prevalent issue. This revelation is expected to redirect the focus of nutrition stakeholders, the county government, and partnering organizations towards addressing economic vulnerabilities.

The study also highlighted that certain groups, particularly fisher-folk and agro-pastoralists, were disproportionately affected, suggesting a need for further research into specific challenges faced by these communities. Dr. Faith Thuita, the Lead Researcher from APHRC, stressed that understanding malnutrition requires a multidimensional approach, incorporating factors such as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), health-seeking behaviors, household food security, women’s decision-making, and responses to economic shocks.

Gabriel Ekuwam, USAID Nawiri’s Field Director for Turkana, highlighted the potential for the study’s findings to inform programmatic discussions aimed at transforming the lives of county residents. The research, which also evaluated the efficacy of using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as opposed to height-to-weight ratios in assessing malnutrition, serves as a crucial step toward evidence-based interventions in the region.

The study’s revelations were presented in the presence of representatives from partner organizations including Concern Worldwide Kenya, the Kenya Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, and Save the Children. These findings are expected to catalyze a shift in strategies for combating malnutrition in Turkana, prioritizing economic stabilization as a fundamental component of nutritional health.